Photo credit: City of Spokane Police Department
After nearly three decades, Spokane Police detectives have identified the man responsible for the 1997 murder of 34-year-old Margaret Anselmo.
Anselmo’s body was found on the morning of January 3, 1997, in an alley near 700 East Pacific Avenue. Investigators determined she had suffered severe head tårauma and signs of sexual assault. The Spokane County Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.
Despite years of investigative effort, detectives were unable to link a suspect to the case until recent advances in forensic genetic genealogy provided a breakthrough.
The Spokane Police Department announced that Brian J. Anderson of Pend Oreille County—now deceased—has been identified as Anselmo’s killer. Evidence collected at the scene was sent to Othram, a Texas-based forensic laboratory specializing in genetic genealogy. There, a DNA profile was developed and analyzed with the help of volunteer genealogist Lynda Keenan, who assisted Spokane detectives by tracing relatives connected to the profile.
Family members of Anderson provided DNA samples and family context, expressing sympathy for Anselmo’s surviving family and a desire to bring closure to the case. Othram’s kinship analysis confirmed that one relative was Anderson’s child and another his half-brother, making Anderson the only possible suspect.
Had he still been alive, the Spokane Police Department stated it would pursue charges of first-degree murder and first-degree rape.
Anyone with additional information related to the case is encouraged to contact Crime Check at (509) 456-2233 and reference case number 97-2325.